Q16 · 2025 · Technology-activeComplex familiar6 marks
QUESTION 16 (6 marks)
A certain population can be approximately modelled by the differential equation
where is the population in millions and is the number of years since 1 January 2025.
Given that the population on 1 January 2025 was estimated at 0.3 million, use a calculus approach to estimate the population on 1 January 2030.
WORKED SOLUTION
6 marksQCAA guide · typeset solution
ANSWER
Approximately million.
Worked solution
Separate variables:
Using partial fractions,
Hence
Given at ,
At ,
Solving gives , so the estimated population on 1 January 2030 is approximately million.
correctly separates the variables
uses partial fractions
uses suitable integration methods to determine a solution to the differential equation
determines the constant of integration
determines an equation in terms of whose solution represents the required population
estimates the required population
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